4 Effective Moves for Firm Thighs

As I eagerly await warmer weather and the reemergence of cut-off shorts into my wardrobe rotation, I’ve been doing some extra leg exercises. My “Daisy Dukes” look especially nice on toned firm thighs! Here are the 4 moves I rely on to tone my lower body. Each move is dynamic and can be performed with only your body weight or by holding dumbbells for added resistance. For best results, I recommend doing 2-3 sets of 15 reps of each exercise at least 3 days per week. As the moves get comfortable, start using dumbbells and increasing the weight to ensure that you are building lean muscle mass and getting maxim, thigh-firming results. Below are photos and step by step instructions.

Have fun and feel the burn stepping up, donkey kicking, lunging and squatting! xoxo, Brit

Place right foot in the middle of step and step up as you balance your body for 1-2 seconds on the right leg. Your left leg should be behind your body to help stabilize your weight as it is shifting. Step down with your left leg first and continue on down with your right. Try for 2 sets of 10-12 repetitions for each leg. Source: Spark People

Kneel down on an exercise mat. Use your elbows to support your upper body. Lift one leg up and kick it straight in the air (upward). Try to kick as high as possible. Lower your leg until your knee is just below parallel to the floor. Repeat the kick on the opposite leg. Source: Workoutz

Step forward with right leg and lower your body to 90 degrees at both knees. Don’t step out too far. There should be 2 to 2.5 feet between your feet at this point. Keep your weight on your heels and don’t allow your knees to cross the plane of your toes. From here, push up, bringing the rear leg forward until you are standing straight again. Step forward with opposite leg and repeat, walking forward for all reps. Source: Spark People

Begin in a wide stance with toes out at a comfortable angle. Your knees will need to stay aligned with your toes, so don’t go out too far. Bend the knees and lower down into a squat, keeping knees in line with toes, abs contracted and back straight. Only go down as low as you can without compromising your flexibility or your balance. Push back to start without locking the knees. Source: Exercise About.com

March 24, 2014January 9, 2020

Good things come to those who SWEAT

Hope your week is off a to a great start – mine certainly is. Last week was quite hectic for me. I had to travel to both Memphis and Salt Lake City for work. When the weekend came I was completely exhausted. Needless to say, I did not feel like the hitting the gym on Saturday nor doing anything that required even the slightest bit of energy. Fortunately, the thought of hanging out with my “fit friends” was enough motivation to keep me from skipping my Saturday morning workout. Afterwards not only did my body feel better, but I was less stressed and had a more positive attitude overall. It was like magic – lots of good vibes and positive energy. That’s the beauty of exercise, it’s great for the mind, body and soul. Activity generates the energy that brings about good vibes. Good things come to those who sweat!

On that note, here’s some fitspiration to get your sweat on – 20 Minute Calorie Blaster treadmill workout from the GRIT by Brit archives. You can check out the original blog post for detailed instructions. I highly encourage you to give this bad boy a whirl some time this week. I am.

And finally, check out these 13 Mental Health Benefits of exercise. On the list, Stress Relief ranks #1. I can attest to the accuracy of this claim. Just for fun, here’s a pic of me and my girlfriends on Saturday night enjoying the residual good vibes from my morning workout.

Wishing you a wonderful week with lots of sweat and good things! xoxo, Brit

Enjoying a lovely Dallas evening with my lovely girlfriends! Feeling rejuvenated after a solid Saturday morning Sweat session 🙂

March 22, 2014

Spring into Shape – Top 5 Super Sweaty YouTube Workouts

Now that Spring is upon us, I bet you’re super eager to rock your sundresses. I am. Fortunately, this weekend marks my official return to teaching Turbo Kick classes since my surgery in January. I’m excited and super nervous all at the same time. Wish me luck! While I’m huge advocate for group fitness (i.e. TurboKick, CrossFit, Yoga, Barre, etc.), I appreciate that sometimes we simply can’t make it to the gym. On these days having a nice repository of fun, effective and free workout videos is key! Here are my 5 favorite super sweaty YouTube workout videos that will have you drenched in sweat and feeling slim and sexy for your patio brunch.

For best results, do the following 7 day plan = 1 video per day for 3 consecutive days + 1 day of Yoga + 1 video per day for 2 consecutive + 1 day of weight training

1. HIIT Cardio: 10 Minutes by MomsIntoFintess

2. 15 Minute Cardio by Yours Truly

3. 15 Minute Insanity Cardio Workout Exercises by HASFit

4. Burn fat, Burn calories, Aerobic, Full Length Workout Video by Jessica Smith

5. Fat Burning HIIT Cardio Video by FitnessBlender

What’s your favorite YouTube workout? Let me know!

Get ready to rock your sundress! xoxo, Brit

March 16, 2014

Celebrating 2 years of Blogging! GRIT by Brit #blogiversary giveaway

Wow – I can’t believe 2 years have passed since the first GRIT by Brit blog post. To celebrate our 2nd blogiversary I’m having a giveaway – yay! The first 10 people to post a gym selfie on Instagram with hashtag #gritbybrit will receive a free GRIT by Brit workout tank top. You can check out the styles at my eStore. I’ll message the winners for their mailing address and size (S/M/L/XL). Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram @GRITbyBrit.

Let’s also take a little trip down memory lane. First up, CLICK HERE to read the inaugural GRIT by Brit workout from March of 2012 – I called it the “Sexy Ladies Sweat Sesh” (wink wink). Also, here’s a recap of the 5 posts I most enjoyed writing this past year. While all of my posts have sentimental value, these 5 especially stand out. Hopefully these can be your pleasure reading for the week.

10 Healthy Habits for Sustained Success – A random list of 10 habits I strive to live by (it’s a lifelong journey)
10 Minute Abs & Thighs Workout Video – My first YouTube workout video
Show some Swagger – Reflecting on the importance of prioritizing our needs/health over pleasing other people.
Love Your Body: Get Hate Your Heart – Exploring the physical healing power of forgiveness.
Why Not Have a Big Life – Just a “feel good” post 🙂

Thanks for joining me on my GRITTY blogging journey!

Lots of luv, Brit

Grinning from ear to ear as I celebrate to awesome years of blogging! #grateful — Grinning from ear to ear as I celebrate 2 awesome years of blogging! #grateful

March 10, 2014February 4, 2021

10 Minute Total Body Bosu Ball Workout #GRITbyBrit

bosu ball workout

Hey gang! Here’s your workout for the week. While I’m a big fan of equipment-free workouts, I decided to switch it up this week and incorporate a personal favorite fitness toy – the Bosu Ball! I chose the Bosu Ball because it made my GRIT by Brit Holiday Fitness Gift picks back in December. Bosu exercises are great for increasing stability and working the core. They’re also a nice change-up from typical dumbbell or barbell workouts.

After designing and testing this routine, I assure you’ll get a serious sweat and feel toned and tight throughout your core. The exercises quickly elevate your heart rate making this workout a good option for days when you’re short on time. The entire workout takes about 10 minutes and you can expect to burn ~100-150 calories. For best results, knock this out everyday for 5 days straight. See below for instructional images to guide you – enjoy!

xoxo,

Brit

Instructional Images

Toe Taps (alternate legs back and forth w/ one foot tapping the top of the Bosu and the other foot on the ground, then switch)

March 9, 2014

It’s all good #SundayInspiration

Have a wonderful week. Stay positive and keep on truckin’! xoxo, Brit

March 2, 2014

STRENGTH

I saw this quote and LOVED it, so I wanted to share it with you guys. It’s so true – right? When I think about the key moments in my life that really made me feel strong, each moment forced me to do something I didn’t think I could do. From running a mile under 8 minutes to teaching a group fitness class, each moment pushed me out of my comfort zone.

As many of you know, I’m a not a full-time fitness professional. I work long hours in corporate America and feel most comfortable in a conference room presenting PowerPoint slides. On top of that, I’m not a “writer” and I’ve struggled with my weight over the years. All of these facts make it easy to convince myself that I’m “unfit” to be a fitness blogger. However maintaining this blog has pushed me out of my comfort zone and made my stronger in several ways – my fitness, nutrition, relationships and even my writing skills!

If you’re like me, you typically like to focus on things you’re naturally good at because it makes you feel good about yourself – nothing wrong with that. The only issue is that refraining from pushing ourselves doesn’t make us stronger. It doesn’t require grit. And grit is what elevates our lives from ordinary to extraordinary. So go ahead and do 5 burpees instead of 4, run for 16 minutes instead of 15, start that blog you’ve been contemplating or take on a new project at work even if it feels a little intimidating.

SHOCK yourself – be STRONG!

xoxo, Brit

February 25, 2014

Are you the next Fitness Star?

Or am I?

Happy Monday everyone! xoxo, Brit — You are a SUPER STAR!
xoxo, Brit

Well one thing is for sure, my body does NOT look like that chick in the Women’s Health Magazine flyer below, but look at all the love and energy I have to give. I mean, that counts for something. Right? 🙂 No matter your shape or size, if you follow a consistent fitness regimen, strive to live a healthy lifestyle and are dedicated motivating others, then you are indeed a “Fitness Star” in my eyes!

Heads up to the aspiring fitness professionals – Women’s Health Magazine is having open auditions for the “Next Fitness Star.” The contest looks super cool and I highly encourage you to audition. I did (if that’s any motivation). The winner gets to star in their own DVD series and appear in pages of Women’s Health Magazine. CLICK HERE to complete the audition form. The deadline is March 6, 2014.

Don’t be scurred – go ahead and strut your stuff, share your passion and be a STAR! Have a wonderful week. Lots of luv, Brit

February 24, 2014

Living Room Workout: Brit’s Head 2 Toe Tone Up!

Hey Gang! Here’s your workout for the week. I made up this routine while chillin’ at my parents’ house. Lately I’ve been all about multitasking. So while we were watching the Winter Olympics I simultaneously cranked out these 5 super effective, body sculpting moves. This is a great workout if you’re short on time, have no equipment and want to focus on strength and toning.

Like most of my workouts, this routine is “circuit style” which means you need to move through each set of exercises fairly quickly with minimal rest. Doing so helps elevate your heart rate and ensure you burn max calories while building muscle strength. These exercises work all of our “problem zones” (i.e. thighs, abs and arm flab). For best results, do my Head 2 Toe Tone Up 2-3 times per week for 4 weeks along with your cardio workouts. Enjoy and let me know how it goes! Lots of luv, Brit

Instructional Images

Spring 2014 GRIT by Brit Pics 013 — Single Leg Lunges

Spring 2014 GRIT by Brit Pics 011 — Plank Knee Pulls

Spring 2014 GRIT by Brit Pics 015 — Decline Push Ups

Spring 2014 GRIT by Brit Pics 010 — Tricep Dips

Spring 2014 GRIT by Brit Pics 017 — Slow, assisted calf raises

February 20, 2014

Spring Break Shape Up: 6 Tricks to Burn an Extra 200 Calories Per Day

Hey gang! Spring is around the corner and I know that my inbox will be full of Spring time shape up requests. To keep us ahead of the last minute slim down dash, here’s my 6 quick and easy tricks to burn excess calories.

First, remember that in order to truly lose 1 pound of body weight, we must burn 3,500 calories more than we consume. Assuming your diet and activity remain consistent, adding these 6 tricks to your daily routine can result in losing 1 additional pound every ~18 days. Not bad huh? Also be sure to note that these estimates are based on 150-160 pound person. A lighter person will burn fewer calories and a heavier person will burn more.

Brit’s 6 Tricks

Stand up at your desk instead of sitting. Standing burns about 50 percent more calories than sitting. Standing at your desk for 30 minutes will burn about 72 calories (2X the amount burned while sitting). Standing instead of sitting for 30 minutes = 36 calories
Learn to Laugh. 15 minutes of laughter = 20 calories
Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Climbing two flights of stairs, three times per day = 30 calories
Dance in the mirror. Dancing is a fun, self-confidence boosting calorie blaster. So twerk a little something while getting dressed for work in the morning 🙂 Dancing for 10 minutes = 58 calories
Stretch in front of the TV. Doesn’t matter if you’re enjoying Scandal or the Bachelor, be sure to stretch instead of sit on the couch. 8-10 minutes of stretching = 31 calories
Choose the parking spot farthest from your building entrance. Walking for an extra 5 minutes = 25 calories

Total = 200 additional calories burned!